Four House members lose re-election bids

RALEIGH — At least four state House members apparently won’t be back next year after losing primary elections Tuesday.

Reps. Drew Saunders, D-Mecklenburg; Mary McAllister, D-Cumberland; Karen Ray, R-Iredell; and Joe Boylan, R-Moore, all lost their races to primary challengers, according to complete, unofficial results.

Saunders, a candidate for House speaker just one year ago, was ousted by Nick Mackey, according to unofficial results that showed Mackey received 53 percent of the vote to 47 percent for Saunders with all but one precinct reporting.

Mackey had high name recognition after winning a special Democratic election for Mecklenburg County sheriff late last year. State party officials threw out the results of that race and county commissioners ultimately chose someone else as sheriff.

McAllister, a nine-term House member from Fayetteville, had come under scrutiny last year when the State Board of Elections ordered her to pay a nearly $17,000 penalty for improper financial transactions related to her campaign funds. In unofficial results with all precincts reporting, McAllister had 49 percent of the vote to 51 percent for challenger Elmer Floyd, a local civil rights leader. Floyd faces no opposition in the general election.

With all precincts reporting, Southern Pines businessman Jamie Boles received 46 percent of the vote and retired Army Col. Lane Toomey had 28 percent to Boylan’s 25 percent.

Boylan, who a month ago was charged with driving while impaired, won his seat in 2006 after he benefited from animosity surrounding a power-sharing agreement his predecessor brokered with House Democrats. These days, the widespread enmity between GOP moderates and conservatives has dwindled compared with the 2004 and 2006 House Republican primaries.

And Ray, a third-term House member who has been a big booster in the Legislature of North Carolina’s stock-car racing industry, lost to Grey Mills, 51 percent to 49 percent, or less than 200 votes, with all precincts reporting.

Democrats hold 99 of the 170 seats in the Legislature, a 68-52 lead in the House and 31-19 advantage in the Senate.

It didn’t appear that the surge in voters that has accompanied the increased attention to the Democratic presidential race would affect majority-black districts now represented by white incumbents.

Sen. Clark Jenkins, D-Edgecombe, defeated former Rep. Shelly Willingham for a third consecutive primary, 50 percent to 41 percent, with all precincts reporting unofficial results. It was thought that Willingham, who is black, might benefit from high voter turnout in a district with a majority of black voters energized by Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.

Snow Hill Mayor Don Davis and State Board of Education member Kathy Taft appeared headed for a runoff in the primary to compete for the Democratic nomination for the seat vacated by Senate Finance Committee co-chairman John Kerr of Wayne County, who is retiring. With all precincts reporting, Davis received 36 percent and Taft had 24 percent.

Another runoff appeared likely for Rep. Kenny Furr, R-Stanly, after unofficial returns whowed he finished second to Justin Burr, with all precincts reporting. Burr had 37 percent of the vote compared to 33 percent for Furr, who was appointed last August to succeed Rep. David Almond, who resigned.

Democrat Kay Carroll and Republican David Rouzer won their primaries and will vie in November for the seat vacated when Sen. Fred Smith, R-Johnston, left to run for governor. With all precincts reporting, Josh Stein had 49 percent of the vote to Jack Nichols’ 40 percent in the race for the Democratic nomination for the seat held by Sen. Janet Cowell, D-Wake, who claimed the party’s nomination for treasurer.

Former state Sen. Bob Rucho edged Charlotte city council member Andy Dulin 51 percent to 49 percent for the GOP nomination to replace Sen. Robert Pittenger, a Republican from Mecklenburg County who claimed his party’s nomination for lieutenant governor. Rucho faces no opposition in the fall.

Former House Speaker Harold Brubaker, R-Randolph and in his 16th term, was one of the successful incumbents, turning back two opponents. Other winning incumbents included Rep. Nelson Cole, D-Rockingham; Rep. Fred Steen, R-Rowan; Rep. Edith Warren, D-Pitt, Sen. Austin Allran, R-Catawba; and Sen. Vernon Malone, D-Wake.

Sen. Harris Blake, R-Moore, turned back a challenge by Cindy Morgan, the wife of former House co-Speaker Richard Morgan.

But convicted felon and former Rep. Thomas Wright, a Democrat from New Hanover County who was expelled from the Legislature earlier this year, lost to the former Wilmington City Council member appointed by Gov. Mike Easley to serve out his term.

Sandra Spaulding Hughes had 74 percent of the vote with 81 precincts reporting to 10 percent for Wright, who is serving time for his conviction in April on fraud charges.

While the state constitution bars convicted felons from taking office, election officials left him on the ballot because there was some question about whether his disqualification begins at his conviction or when all appeals are exhausted.

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